Historic racing 2012

The HSCC have confirmed their 2012 calendar ahead of most other clubs:

HSCC unveils 2012 calendarFriday 9 December 2011

A superb calendar taking in the very best circuits in Britain and three headline weekend festivals make the 2012 calendar for the Historic Sports Car Club the best yet in the club’s 46-year history. The HSCC was recently voted ‘Club of the Year’ at the first International Historic Motoring Awards.New for 2012 is a two-day meeting at Donington Park in March to start the season, while the headlining Silverstone International Trophy, Brands Hatch Super Prix and Oulton Park Gold Cup all retain traditional slots on the calendar. The chance to race on the Silverstone Grand Prix, Brands Hatch Grand Prix and Oulton Park International circuits are all relished by club members as well as by significant guest series from the UK and Europe.The Cadwell Park Wolds Trophy will again be a celebration of Formula 3, while the Snetterton Autosport 3-Hours will offer a high profile endurance race for cars from the Guards Trophy. Meanwhile, the Croft Nostalgia Weekend is rapidly developing into a must-do weekend for fans based in the north of England.In addition to nine meetings focussing on the club’s portfolio of 13 championships and series, the HSCC will also be the organising club for two of Britain’s most important historic racing festivals, the Donington Historic Festival and the Silverstone Classic. The HSCC also administers the Historic Formula 2 Championship, which starts at Hockenheim and takes in circuits like Spa, Brands Hatch and Zandvoort.

“I’m delighted that our 2012 calendar has been confirmed so early,” said the club’s executive director Grahame White. “We are very fortunate to be able to offer all our members the chance to race on these fabulous circuits; the opportunities for many club racers to tackle the GP circuits at Silverstone and Brands Hatch are rare. We will also announce shortly details of races at Spa and Dijon for our members.”

Count me in for the Donington Historic Festival aswell guys....wild horses can`t keep me away !! Nex year the meeting looks like being even better than this year . I am led to believe that the trade village is going to be on the outside of Redgate and the Melbourne loop will be again used for the Go-kart exhibition and Rally car special stage. The Historic Go Kart guys have their own race on track aswell. The circuit is getting better as regards to the facilities although we must cut the slack for everyone at Donington. Two years ago it was a boggy building site 12 inches undersnow with no complete tarmac.
As for the other dates in the Historic Season, I will probably be at Brands early July , maybe Oulton for the Gold Cup and Donington in October. Historic racing in 2012 is going to be on the up and is deffo value for money....can`t wait!

Martini Trophy and Supersports link-up for 2012The Martini Trophy and the International Supersports Cup will join forces in 2012 to create an even stronger race series for 2-litre sports-racing cars under the management of the Historic Sports Car Club.Following a meeting in London between Silvio and Angela Kalb from Supersports and Grahame White from the HSCC, an agreement was reached to bring the two series together and offer a superb programme of racing for the coming year.The revised series, to be titled the Martini Trophy with Supersports, will enjoy a five-event, 10-race schedule at high-profile historic race meetings. The series will be managed by the HSCC from its office at Silverstone, while the Kalbs will remain actively involved and Silvio plans to race his March 75S in the new series.The cut-off date will remain as per the Martini regulations, for 2-litre sports-racing cars produced prior to the end of 1978. As previously announced, closed cockpit cars will be encouraged in 2012, notably Chevron B8s, B16s and cars like the Ferrari Dino 206S, Ligier JS1, Lotus 47/62 and the Porsche 906/907/910 range. For the Hockenheim race only Can-Am and big-engined sports will be eligible to race, but from then on it will be restricted to 2-litre cars only.“This is best news for a long time for 2-litre sports car racing,” said White. “We have been talking about working together for some time so I’m delighted that agreement has been reached, the future looks really bright.”The provisional calendar for the Martini Trophy with Supersports is:

The VSCC date at Donington in September was ideal.Donington then pushed them into May last year ,couple of weeks after Festival so that proved a problem.
Can't see things at Donington improving with new management structure as far as Pre War cars are concerned any more than Silverstone Festival where trend is to have four different organising subcontractors providing races for the same cars.
Goodwood provides a balance and that's where it wins hands down over the other supposedly major UK Historic meetings.

HSCC steps up period Formula 3 involvement in 2012The Historic Sports Club’s race programme will have its greatest Formula 3 element so far in 2012, with race series spanning 20 years of the category and an involvement with the earliest Formula 3 cars from the 1950s.A celebration of Formula 3 was a focal attraction at Autosport International today (Friday 13 January) as a host of former F3 racers gathered at the HSCC stand. Among them were former British F3 champions Tony Trimmer (1970), Jonathan Palmer (1981), Andy Wallace (1986) and David Brabham (1989). A display of a dozen Formula 3 cars told the remarkable story of the category from 1950 right through to 2012.From races for the 500 Owners’ Association, via stand-alone races for Historic 1000cc F3 cars of the late 1960s through to the Classic F3 Championship for the 1600cc and 2000cc cars of the 1970s and early 1980s, the HSCC will be home to an unrivalled array of racing for period F3 cars in 2012.The club’s Classic Formula 3 Championship will have a fresh look this year following a move to admit later Formula 3 cars up to 1984 including the Ralt RT3, which was previously specifically excluded. The later series cars (1981-84) must run in flat-bottom trim and carry mechanical injection and the VW engine is now eligible. These changes bring the championship in line with the regulations used in the similar French series and also the rules for the race at the Monaco Historic GP.Meanwhile, the Historic 1000cc cars raced between 1964 and 1970 will, for the first time, have a series of stand-alone races as support for the category gets stronger and stronger. Representing the earliest era of F3 will be the 500 Owners’ Association race series, which will have up to four races with the HSCC this season.The flagship HSCC event for Formula 3 cars will be the Wolds Trophy at Cadwell Park (21/22 April), which will again have a very strong F3 theme. Races for all three categories are already attracting interest from European drivers.

Count me in for the Donington Historic Festival aswell guys....wild horses can`t keep me away !! Nex year the meeting looks like being even better than this year . I am led to believe that the trade village is going to be on the outside of Redgate and the Melbourne loop will be again used for the Go-kart exhibition and Rally car special stage. The Historic Go Kart guys have their own race on track aswell. The circuit is getting better as regards to the facilities although we must cut the slack for everyone at Donington. Two years ago it was a boggy building site 12 inches undersnow with no complete tarmac.

Can't see things at Donington improving with new management structure as far as Pre War cars are concerned any more than Silverstone Festival where trend is to have four different organising subcontractors providing races for the same cars.

I failed to understand your arguments on first reading, but I now think I know where you are getting at. The "big events" are not a single club thing, but are reliant on multiple championship organisers to provide width (pre war, post war front engine single seater, 1970s prototype sports cars etc). VSCC, for political or financial reasons that are outside my knowledge, do not appear to be part of the "big events" according to the club calendar.

But I can't help thinking that Tom Wheatcroft resurrected Donington Park so that he could watch pre war cars on a wide parkland circuit. On a commercial basis, Mercedes and Audi want to run their Silver Arrows at UK big events, even if it is a demonstration between the pre war racers.

I will possibly be in the UK in May and am thinking of attending either the Donington Historic Festival or The Silverstone International Trophy. Any feedback on these two meetings?.
Thanks in advance,
Jeff.

I will possibly be in the UK in May and am thinking of attending either the Donington Historic Festival or The Silverstone International Trophy. Any feedback on these two meetings?.Thanks in advance,Jeff.

Hi Jeff

I'm sure both would be fun. And you could come over to Monaco and join us there on the weekend of the 13th for their Historique.

I can certainly recommend the Donington Historic Festival Jeff , the first event last year was fantastic . This years event will probably be even better as the organisers have some feedback to improve areas that may have needed `tweaking` first time round.
I will be camping at the Park Farmhouse all weekend and whilst at Donington, a visit to the Collection is always worthwhile . Hope to see you there Jeff, and it may be an opportunity for a gathering of us TNFrs....

HISTORIC RACING DRIVERS CLUB - HRDC HISTORICA FESTIVAL - CASTLE COMBE - 9 APRIL 2012Early entries for grid slots at the HRDC 'Historica' Festival - which will be held on the traditional Easter Bank Holiday Monday race meeting date (9 April) at Castle Combe - have been flooding into the HRDC Race HQ in Leamington Spa.

HRDC's Race Director - Julius Thurgood - commented: "The response from competitors to this Easter Monday Castle Combe meeting has been amazing, especially so early in the year. This is probably due to the reputation earned by the HRDC last season for fielding full grids and the fact that this particular date at Castle Combe has been so well established over the years; it is considered a 'must-do' event in the historic racing diary. Certainly Howard Strawford's team at Castle Combe add a 'feel-good' factor to everything that they do at this historic venue. There is also the added factor of the value for money entry fee system operated by the HRDC - £395 for 70 minutes of track time is a really good deal in the historic sector."

Le Mans ace, Darren Turner, was one of the first competitors to sign-up for Castle Combe. He will be partnering James Turner in the ex-Adam Gittings Ford Zodiac Mk2 which the pair bought early last year. Currently being fettled by Shaun Rainford's team at CCK Historic, this well-known racer is set for a full season of HRDC 'Touring Greats'. No doubt this will be a series front-runner. Looking to keep the Ford pairing honest will be Goodwood ace, Rae Davis, in his diminutive Austin A35 - "I'm looking forward to giving all the big cars a real run for their money at Castle Combe - I can't wait to get out there!":: The HRDC 'MGB50' is set to bring a big grid of FIA historic 'B' racers - along with several works cars including the 1965 Le Mans car, which will be pedalled with verve by Barry 'Sideways' Smith.:: HRDC 'GTS65' will see a great range of larger-capacity historic GTs run in a long-distance format. Keith Ahlers is entered in his fabulous Morgan Plus 4 SLR; 'Whizzo' Williams will be partnering Richard Frankel in the ex-Scuderia Filipinetti Porsche 904/6.:: A strong grid of HRDC 'Grand Touring Greats' small-bore GTs is expected. Mike Youles will be looking for a win with his rare Rochdale Olympic, after a great debut last year at Snetterton. Ian Burford will debut the freshly restored 'Lumbertubs' Sprite.:: HRDC 'TC63' ran an impressive grid for the first time at Snetterton back in October. Paul Clayson hopes to debut the recently re-discovered ex-Chris Lawrence, Zolder-winning, Blydenstein Vauxhall VX4/90. Tony Murray will again be out with his gorgeous Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint.

In addition to the HRDC Easter Monday meeting, there will be three other meetings at Castle Combe in 2012 with Classic/Historic content:21/22 July CSCC Classic 50 weekend (which includes the new CSCC Special Saloons series)Bank holiday Monday 27 August, celebrating 60 years of UK Porsche racing& 6th October Autumn Classic (includes Fiscar, VSCC, etc.).

For spectators there is an advance season ticket covering all four meetings (5 days of racing), plus the Classic & Sports Car Action day on 9th June, for £55 (under 16s admitted free) at www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk. (Or, If you’re 65 or over, for £50 you can get a season ticket covering all the 2012 race meetings)

Easter Monday also includes Castle Combe’s own Formula Ford, Saloon, and Sports & GT championship races, as do the other meetings.

"For the first time in over 70 years, the famous Silver Arrows Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix cars will once again be driven in anger not only at a British motor circuit, but worldwide for the first time.

The iconic Mercedes-Benz W25, W125, W154 and W165, plus examples of the Auto Union Type C and Type D, will be seen in race-speed action, with well-known top-level racing drivers behind the wheels. This promises to be the biggest thing in historic motor sport for decades, and a spectacle that really must be experienced first-hand. Alongside the Silver Arrow racers will be many of the cars they competed against – expect to see examples of ERA, Maserati, Bugatti and MG on the legendary Goodwood track."

I will be surprised if they are entered in an actual race, but it will be good to see them driven together in a spirited way.

As the HSCC and Masters have ended up with a clash of dates for their first meetings of the year on the 17th and 18th March, they have announced the following:

Masters and the HSCC launch Oulton-Donington Challenge!Leading historic race organisers and promoters the Historic Sports Car Club and Masters historic Racing have announced the Oulton Park-Donington Challenge to be held this March. With the two organisations forced to hold a race meeting on the same weekend, the challenge is an incentive for competitors to race at both venues.Masters will run a one-day event at Oulton Park on March 17th, while the HSCC runs at Donington on March 17/18th. However, HSCC Executive Director Grahame White has planned a timetable to allow drivers of sports cars and touring cars to race at Oulton on Saturday with Masters and then head to Donington for the Sunday.The Oulton-Donington Challenge is open to drivers who compete at both events – any driver attempting both events will win a bottle of champagne. But, the driver with the best cumulative results in his races over the weekend will be the overall winner with a magnum of champagne on offer for the most successful driver.Masters Historic Racing Event Manager Rachel Bailey said: “We are very pleased that the HSCC has been so co-operative over this weekend and structuring its timetable to allow competitors to race at both events. This illustrates the relationship between Masters and the HSCC with the aim being to look after the competitors.”Grahame White, HSCC Executive Director said: “We realise that it is not ideal to be running two events on the same weekend but that is due to circumstances, not design. We don’t want anyone to miss out on racing at either event so we will welcome competitors on Sunday to qualify and race in the Historic Touring Car and Guards Trophy races and we are happy to work closely with Masters to offer competitors a great weekend of racing.”

A Formula Libre-style Allcomers race is planned for the Masters Historic Festival at Oulton Park on 17 March. The event is a celebration of race cars spanning the circuit's six decades, with a huge variety of entries. The new race will see the return of powerful single seaters to the Cheshire circuit and is likely to include Formula 2, 3000 and 5000 cars amongst others.

Oulton Park was a popular venue for the F5000 championship in the 1970s, with the Gold Cup running to the series regulations on several occasions. F2 often alternated with Formula 1 for the prestigious award in its early years, whilst F3000 winners also have their name on the trophy.

Masters Historic racing are taking entries for single seater race cars below Formula 1 and are already confident of a healthy entry. The race has been added to a packed programme on the day, which includes events for saloon and GT cars from the '60s and '70s, plus Le Mans sportscars.

"Single seater racing has a huge history at Oulton Park," said Masters Event Manager Rachel Bailey. "What we want to do is encourage cars to come and race that don't fit into a current category, whilst at the same time welcoming cars from historic single seater racing."

The Masters Historic Festival kicks off the season at Oulton Park in style, bringing a flavour of nostalgia to Cheshire. The event will also feature attractions around the circuit, with the one-day format promising non-stop action.

Well I had a death burger from the Avenue Caravan which may have been some cause of concern, although I'm indebted to Edington Mains for giving me a lift at the end of the lunch break to get the spare camera battery I'd left in my car.